Verstappen-Lawson case explodes: did Racing Bulls want to favor Max?

Family duel

A controversy involving Max Verstappen and his duel with Liam Lawson that took place in the very first laps of the Miami GP on Sunday is mounting on social networks and some media, right after the sensational spin that dropped the Dutch superstar from first position to the back of the pack.

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First of all, the facts: after the 360° spin and losing several positions, Verstappen found himself battling with Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls for eighth and ninth place. The Dutchman, who proved particularly aggressive in overtaking especially in the first part of the American race, attacked Lawson on the inside of turn 11, taking both cars off track, well beyond the track limits.

It should be emphasized that Verstappen’s car was never fully alongside his rival’s. This is an important point, because the now ‘famous’ overtaking guidelines state that a driver in Verstappen’s position, attempting an inside overtake, must “have the front axle at least aligned with the other car’s mirror before the apex and at the apex” and “drive in a fully controlled manner, especially from entry to apex, without ‘throwing oneself’“. #30, despite being ‘pushed’ off, did not lift off and maintained his position ahead of the four-time world champion when rejoining the track. Legitimately, according to the guidelines.

Overzealousness in Racing Bulls

Immediately, as almost always happens in these cases, radio recriminations between the two contenders began: Verstappen called Lawson an “idiot” while Lawson told his pit wall he didn’t understand “what Max wanted to do there“. However, during the second lap, to Lawson’s great surprise, it was his race engineer who suggested he let Verstappen pass, as usually happens when an off-track overtake is made and a possible penalty from the stewards is to be avoided by immediately giving up the position.

“Liam, we have to give the position back to Max – Lawson was told over the radio – we have to give the position to Max. He is 1.3 seconds behind. Behind him, Albon is 1.3 seconds back. Do it as soon as possible“. The Racing Bulls driver complained – “He came into me, I don’t understand” – but finally obeyed, yielding to Verstappen.

Verstappen’s ‘aggressive’ move in turn 11 was not investigated by the stewards – which can be understandable, since it was the first lap and in the end the Dutchman did not gain advantage from the maneuver – but certainly Lawson should not have let Red Bull #3 pass since he had committed no irregularity in defending. Inevitably, given the belonging of the two drivers involved in the episode to the two ‘sister’ teams on the grid – Red Bull and Racing Bulls – suspicions began about a willingness of the Faenza team to favor the comeback of the Dutchman from the ‘parent’ team. Certainly, this episode adds to the already numerous controversies emerging in the paddock on the delicate topic of multi-ownership in Formula 1 and ‘B teams’.

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